Jimi Hendrix Exhibit Opens at His Former London Flat

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The 23 Brook Street Exhibit opened its doors today to give fans a look into [lastfm]Jimi Hendrix’s[/lastfm] life in London– and the interesting musical connection that the guitarist shared with a famous composer who inhabited the building 200 years prior.

The famous flat in London’s Mayfair housed George Frideric Handel and Jimi Hendrix–two immigrants to British soil who came bearing incredible talent and a big dream.

Museum curators at the Handle House Musuem, which already houses an exhibit for Frideric Handel, hope to raise money to restore the apartment to it’s 1960’s decor and open it as a permanent Hendrix exhibition.

[pullquote quote=”I think for Hendrix London was much more open — in America he was too white for black music and too black for white music. Here there was a burgeoning blues scene that wasn’t that categorized. ” credit=”Martin Wyatt deputy director of the Handel House Museum”]

Visitors will be allowed to tour the small flat, getting a look at where the artist lived during his days in London. The exhibit will showcase Hendrix’s personal memorabilia– like the Gibson Flying V guitar he played at the Isle of Wight festival in August 1970, handwritten lyrics and an outfit donned by the iconic guitarist ( an orange velvet jacket and black Westerner hat).

Hendrix’s death certificate will also be on display for visitors to view. He died in a London hotel on Sept. 18, 1970, at the age of 27, cause of death “inhalation of vomit” and barbiturate intoxication.

He moved to London as a little-known guitarist in 1966, and was keenly aware of the history behind the building. In a strange way he felt connected to the 18-century harpsichordist Frideric Handel. Hendrix purchased recordings of Handel’s “Messiah”– and even gave tours of his apartment to music students who came knocking at his door.

Martin Wyatt, deputy director of the Handel House Museum said:

He once claimed to have seen a reflection of Handel’s face in his shaving mirror. Hendrix was convinced he was living in Handel’s house — but actually he was living next door.

Hendrix resided at 23 and Frideric Handel at 25 Brook Street.

Now his apartment is ironically a site for fans to come knocking. Tours of 23 Brook Steet began today, 40-years after his death. The 12 day exhibit will run through November 7.